CLIMATE CHANGE, CULTURAL HERITAGE AND THE PLANNING OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM: THE CASE OF STEĆCI IN SARAJEVO CANTON
Edin Hrelja
Amina Sivac
Nusret Drešković
Snežana Radulović
Ahmed Džaferagić
DOI: 10.35666/25662880.2025.11.99
UDC: 551.583:338.483.12(497.6 KS)
Abstract: The long-term monitoring of climate in Sarajevo Canton, primarily based on temperature and precipitation data from the Sarajevo–Bjelave meteorological station (1888 2024), provides a solid foundation for assessing climate variability and change. While the overall trend reflects gradual warming and relatively stable annual precipitation, alterations in seasonal patterns have contributed to an increased occurrence of floods, droughts, landslides and wildfires. These processes threaten not only the natural environment but also the preservation of cultural heritage, particularly necropolises of stećci, which represent an integral component of the Canton’s historical landscape. As these medieval monuments are recognized as a unique cultural asset and a key driver for the development of special-interest tourism, their exposure to climate impacts directly influences long-term strategies for sustainable tourism. By integrating spatial models of climate-related hazards with the distribution of stećci, this research enhances understanding of how climate change affects both cultural heritage and tourism development. It underlines the importance of adaptive spatial planning that reconciles heritage conservation with the sustainable use of cultural resources.
Keywords: climate change, stećci, sustainable tourism, cultural heritage, Sarajevo Canton
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